Fruit-cutting and juice-expressing machine



N. EASTMAN FRUIT-CUTTING AND JUICE-EXPRESSING MACHINE Au@ E, iig.

4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 0G13. 29, 1945 MATHAHEL E'ASTMAN ATTORNEY N. EASTMAN FRUIT-CUTTING AND JUICE-EXPRESSING MACHNE Aug., m B949,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OG.. 29, 1945 NATHANIEL EASTMN BY /QQQLWQ/ ATTORNEY* 49 N. EASTMAN 2947,@4*

FRUIT-CUTTING AND JUICE-EXPRESSING MACHINE Aug 69 Filed Oct. 29, 1945 4 ShetS-Sheet 3 Q4 a A, L

INVENTOR Gi :vm-HAMEL EASTMAN ATTORNEY mg E fg N. EASTMAN FRUIT-CUTTING AND JUICE-EXPRESSING MACHINE 4 SheetS-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1945 INVENTOR NATHANIEL. EATMAN ATTORNEY Patented ug. 16, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ".FRUIT-CUTTING AND JUICE-EXPRESSING `MACHINE f Nathaniel Eastman, New York, N. Y. Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,360

12 Claims. (Cl. 100-47) The invention relates to a fruit-cutting and juice-expressing machine. With slight modications fruits of various natures might be readily handled by theV improvedmachine of the present invention, however the invention has particularly in mind the cutting and juice expressing of citrons fruits such'as oranges, lemons or limes.

In many instances, such as restaurants, hotels, drink stands, etc., large quantities of citrous juices are required either for direct consumption or to form one of the principal .ingredients for different kinds ofmixed drinks. It is a fact that even with `the well known mechanical types Vof orange juice extracting 4machines considerable time is involvedin the operation of same. With the mechanical or manually operated machines in general usage the fruit must first be cut in half by hand and each half then applied to the juice expressing mechanism. The principal object of the present invention is to provideA a mechanism into which the entire fruit such as oranges may be rapidly fed and all the juice be efficiently expressed or extracted and stored in a suitable receptacle and the debris such as the rinds, pits and superuous pulp is automatically removed into a waste receptacle. Thus large amounts of pure juice may be rapidly and efl'ciently extracted with a minimum amount of time and effort.

In most orange juice expressing machines, whether' mechanically or manually operated, the pits and rinds have a tendency to become crushed, broken or cut up, thus Vresulting in the extraction of a bitter orange oil. This isparticularly annoying when consuming the drink. Alfurther object of the present invention isto provide a machine which, while extracting all the juice and pulp from the fruit, will not break or cut the pits or the rinds and will not extract the disagreeable oils from the same.

Y Further objects are to provide a machine which is simple, sturdy and rugged and one in whichV the parts are easily accessible or removable for cleaning purposes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part thereof and in which preferred forms of the invention are illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, parts being broken away for economy of space and parts being in section; Y

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking toward the right hand side of Fig. 1, parts being broken outy for economy of space and parts being in section; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view in a larger scale and is taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on a smaller scale and is taken on the lines 4-4 of Figs. 1 and Z);

Fig, 5 is'a'sectional elevational View of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is ar fragmentary elevational view looking toward the right of Fig. 5 and omitting the casing, gearing and numerous other parts.

VThe present invention has to do with analogous subject matter and to improvements in my prior Patent`2,382,620, dated August 14, 1945.

Referring again to the drawings and particularly to Figs, 1 to 4 the framework of the machine as illustrated is formed of structural members such as channels and angles secured together by resistance welding or other suitable means. Obviously it is to be .understood this framework might well be constructed as a casting or aV plurality of castings. l, l

Y As shown the lmain supporting members of the framework comprise a pair of upright channels Ill-l0, connected at their upper ends by a channel Il and at their lower ends by a channel I2. Other upright channels I5--l5,v spaced from the channels Ill-I0, are secured to the latter by cross channels lli-I6, which in turn have their ends secured to each other bychannels II--II Additional upright channels Ill- I8 intermediately spaced between the channels lil and I5 are secured to the channels ISVand l2. Upwardly extending angles Ill-I9 are secured to the cross channelsv I6 and diagonally extending reinforcing and supporting angle members Ztl-20 connect the upper ends of the angles i9 and the upper vendsof the main supporting channels l0.

A shaft 25 is mounted in bearings 26 carried in the upper portions of Ythe channels Ill--IIL This shaft has keyed to it at 21 an impellerV 28. The impeller is divided at 29, for purposes hereafter described and comprises a plurality of blades 30. Secured to one of the outer ends'of the shaft 25 is a pulley'3l over which a belt 32 passes for continuously rotating the impeller as hereinafter described when the machine is in operation. As illustrated in Fig; 1 the operator feeds the oranges A or other fruit on the successive blades of the impeller as they appear. Obviously the impeller might be a rotatable member having a plurality of pockets therein,`the pockets being the equivalent ofthe spaces between the blades.

y. arcuate guide 35 is provided for the fruit. This guide like the impeller is divided at its central portionsand is approximately V-shaped in cross-section. Each side of the guide has a plurality of bosses 35 which are secured to triangular shaped plates 3'? by screws 38 and the plates 3l are in turn secured to the upright channels lll by resistance Welding or other suitable means, thus rigidly supporting the arcuate guide.

The arcuate guide leads the fruit A to and past a rotary slicing disc 4E! which cuts the fruit in half. The impeller 23 and guide 35 are divided as heretofore described to permit passage of the slicing disc 4G. As shown in Fig. l the fruit will gravitate down the arcuate guide 35 and Will be forced against the rotary slicing disc 40 by the impeller blades 30, thus cleanly cutting the fruit in half and leaving one-half on each Side of the rotary slicing disc.

The rotary slicing disc 40 is secured to a shaft 4I mounted in ybearings 42 carried .by the cross channels I5. A pulley 43 is mounted on one of the outer ends of the shaft 4| and a belt 44 passes over this pulley and thence to a motor or other suit-able source of power (not illustrated) to drive the machine.

From the arcuate guide 35 the sliced fruit passes by gravity and under the urge of the fruit behind it through a pair of annular guide members 45 and 46. The guide 45 is supported on the diagonally extending angles 2D by brackets 41 which are secured to the angles 20 and guide 45 respectively by screws 48 and 49 or other suit- /able means. The guide member 46 is carried by and secured to the channels l-6 by screws 50.

From the guides 45 and 46 the sliced fruit passes on to curved expressing or pressure plates 55, one on either side of the rotary cutting disc 40 and each one accommodating one-half of the sliced fruit, the ilat faces of the sliced -fruit being in engagement with the expressing plates. The intermediate portions of the expressing plates rest on brackets 56-56 resistance welded or otherwise secured to plates 51 extending between and secured to the upright channels |-l5 and |8-|\8. Removable pins 58 pass through ears 59 secured to the expressing plates 55 and the channels |5--l5 and I8--l8. When the pins A58 are withdrawn, the expressing plates may be slid out for cleaning. The foregoing arrangement of mounting the expressing plates also permits of a certain yamount of flexibility in the expressing or pressure plates. provided with side anges ylill to insure against the escape of any expressed juice and to `aid in the proper positioning of the sliced fruit. Obviously various means might be devised to support the flexible pressure plates.

Each of the expressing plates 55 has operating in conjunction therewith an expressing or pres# sure roll -5 I. The operating faces .of the expressing rolls are serrated or toothed as indicated at 62 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The expressing rolls 6| are keyed or otherwise secured to shafts 63 mounted in suitable bearings B4 carried by the upright frame channels I5-l5 and l8-I8. Each shaft 63 has secured thereto a Worm wheel 65 and these worm wheels engage worms 56 mounted on the driving shaft 4I. It will thus be apparent the expressing rolls are constantly driven when the machine is in operation. The belt 32 heretofore mentioned for driving the impeller passes over a pulley 61 secured on the end of one of the expressing r-oll shafts 53.

The expressing or pressure rolls -Gl are preferably provided with a series of ejecting or expelling uns 68. The uns 58 may be formed integral with or secured to Vthe pressure rolls in any' convenient manner;

The expressing plates areV Entered into slots adjacent the outer ends Iof the expressing or pressure plates l55 are tongues 'I6 formed on the inner ends of perforated platforms 7l. The expressed fruit juice passes through the perforations 12 `and over depending lips 'I3 on the outer ends of the expressing plates and thence into troughs I4 which have depending lips 15 on their inner ends to cause the expressed juice to flow into the removable juice receptacle 16. The rinds, excess pulp and pits are pushed -off ythe ends of the platforms 1l into a suitable waste receptacle, diagrammatically illustrated at Tl in Fig. 3.

The troughs 14 are supported in any suitable manner. As illustrated they rest on angles 18 secured to the upright channels I5--I5 and |8-l8.

For cleaning purposes the perforated platforms 'Il may be easily and quickly removed from the expressing plates, the troughs withdrawn and the expressing plates slid out as heretofore described.

Attention is now particularly called to Fig. 3. In this figure the two halves of the sliced fruit A are shown as leaving the rotary cutting disc and the guides heretofore described, and entering upon the upper ends of the expressing or pressure plates 55. In the position indicated by the reference character B the half orange is just entering the bite of the expressing roll and expressing plate. Due to the curvature of the ex-l pressing plate and the positioning of the expressing roll in rel-ation thereto the expressing roll will move the orange to the position indicated by the reference character C and the expressing of the fruit juice is started. The continued rotation of the expressing roll practically turns the fruit over on itself, the flat face of the crushed fruit being against the teeth of the expressing roll as indicated at D. In passing from the position indicated at D to that 0f E the fruit is forced through the constricted zone between the expressing roll and expressing plate and all the juice, pulp and pits are cleanly extracted Vfrom the rind. The method of mounting and the inherent flexibility of the expressing or pressure plate 55 lnsures against the breaking or crushing of the pits while they are being extracted. The ejecting fins or blades 168 are of a depth substantially equal to the distance between the pressure rolls y6l and the pressure plates 55 at the region of thel constricted zones, heretofore described. It is thus insured that any particles of the orange rind, pits or pulp will be efficiently removed from the pressure plates.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a slightly modified form of the invention and in these figures similar reference characters representsimilar parts.

The essential diiference in the forms of the invention Yillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and Figs. 5 and 6 resides in the fact that in Figs. 5 and 6 the axes of the impeller 28, the rotary slicing disc 45 and the expressing rolls 5| 'are .all parallel while in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the aXes of the impeller and rotary `slicing dise are paral1e1 and the axes of the expressing rolls are disposed at right angles thereto. A Y,

' Therefore in the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, means suchas indicated at 80 are provided for turning the severed halves of the -fruit atY right angles after the fruit has left the larcuate guide 35 and prior to the fruit entering the expressing plates 55. The guide 80 is rigidly attached to the inclined 'part of the casing and includes an larm which extends outo'v'er each face of the disk, together with stent up' part 80' associated with each ,arm and likewise close'to the disk in the'pathfo'f the roundk edgeof'each orange as it'is severed in two by the disk 40. The halves of the orange after beingr cut "in two by the '.'disk' il()V strike 'the arms of the guidesgand are turnedoutward so that they fall down upon the pressure plates'f 5i and pass edgewi'se under the squeezing rollers-16|. Fromfthis point on the parts function substantially vas, described in the Yoperation'o'f Figrs'flgtofi. Y j j Y 'In'Fig. 5 an adjustable guide 8l' is illustrated, Thisguide may be moved toward or away from the expressing plates`55 by a rackand pinion ad'- justment 82 to compensate for variations the size'ofthefruitL f v AAs Aillustrated enclosed4 by a'casing 8.5, Obviously a similar case ing :might 'be employed with the embodiment fof the invention disclosed in Figs 1 to 4. lA scraping or cleaning brush 86 bearing against the expressing rolls 6l las fshown'in'Fig. 5 might be utilized withl either embodiment of the inven# tion.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the drive shaft'90 `carries'the rotary slicing disc 40. Secured to the drive 4shaft '90 is a pinion 9i whichrmeshes anl idlergear 92 carried'by a shaft 93 and to which is'secured a pinion 94. The pinion '94 meshes a gear 95 which is fast to the shaft 63' carrying thexpressing rollsil.A A pulley or sprocket 96 mounted on the expressing `roll shaft B3 has'a belt or sprocket chain 91 which passes over another pulley" or sprocket 98 fast to the impeller shaft 25 -tolrotateV-the impeller.

'Such changes in details of Yconstruction and arrangement of parts as would occur to one skilled 'inthe art areto be consideredas coming withink the spirit ofithe invention as set forth in the apa pended claims. I v .i- 1

Iclaim:`

`1. A fruit-cutting and juice-expressing machine having in combination, a, supporting frame', an impeller mounted in the upperI part of said frame and havinglmeans thereon for conveying and urging fruit into Vsaid machine, a rotary i slicing disc-having its axistparallel to' the axis of said impeller and against which said fruit gravitates and is'urged by said impeller to -cut said fruit inhalf;iexpressing plates upon which each half of the fruit is received after being cut Y by said slicing disc, expressing rolls having their axes at substantially right angles to the axes `of said'impeller and said rotary cutting disc, said expressing rolls operating in conjunction with said expressing plates -to extract the juice from said fruit, and means forrrotating said impeller,

said rotary slicing disc and said expressingrolls. y 2.' A 'fruit-cutting and juicefexpressing ma- Chine'haVing invcombination, a supporting frame, an impeller mounted in the upper part of vsaid -frame and having means thereonY for conveying and urging fruit into said machine, a rotary slicing disc having its axis parallel to the axis of said impeller and against which said fruit gravi-l tates and is urged by said impeller to cut said fruit in half, expressing plates upon which each half of the fruit is received after being cut by said slicing disc, expressing rolls having their axes substantially parallel with the axes of said impeller and said slicingvdisc, means for causing the sliced fruit to turn at right angles after leaving the slicing disc and prior to entering upon the expressing plates, said expressing rolls operating in conjunction with said expressing plates to extract the juice from said fruit, and means yin Fig. 5 the machine maybe for rotating said impeller, saidvslicing disc and said expressing rolls,`

`3. A fruit-'cutting and juice-expressing ma#- chine having'in combination, a supporting frame, an impeller rotatablyV ffm'ounted in said frame rfor urging fruit into said machine,`a rotary slicing disc ag'air'lst which Vsaid fruit gravitatesy and is urged by said impeller to cut said fruit in half, expressing plates L-up'on which yeach half ofthe Ifruit is received, expressing rolls operatingfin conjunction with said plates to extract the juice from said fruit, platforms adjacent the'ends'of said expressing plates upon which the rinds, superfluous pulp andpits ofthe expressed yfruit are receivedand urged from said platform -into awast'ereceptacle, and perforationsin said plat-i form'through which the expressed juices pass.V

4. A fruit-cutting and juice-expressingmachine having in combination, a supporting frame, an impeller rotatably mounted in said frame `for urging fruit into said machine, arotary slicing 'disc against which said fruit gr'avitates and 'is urged by said' impeller to cut said fruit inr half; expressing plates upon which each half of the fruit is received, expressing rolls operating in conjunction with said plates to extract the juicefrom said fruit, platforms adjacent the ends of said expressing plates upon which the. rinds, superfluous pulp, and pits of the expressed fruit are received and urged from said platform into a waste receptacle, perforations in said platform, troughs under saidperforations and into which the expressed juices pass, and a receptacle into which said troughs lead said expressed juices.

5. A fruit cutting and juice expressingY machine having in combination, a rotary slicing disc for cutting the fruitv in half, a pair of expressing plates upon which each half of the fruit is guided after being cut in half byv said rotary slicing disc, andl a pair of` expressing rollsl operating in conjunction with said expressing plates to-'extract the juicefrom saidrfruit, said expressingplates having their upper portions resting adjacent either side of said slicing disc and having downwardly extending Aportions somewhat remotely spaced Yfrom thelateral portions of said expressing rolls, curved portionsA approaching said expressing rolls and merging into substantially horizontal portions in close'proximity tothe under sides of rsaid expressing rolls.,

Ae. A fruit cutting and juice expressing machine having in combination a supporting frame, an impeller rotatably mounted in said frame for urging fruitrintosaidmachine, a Lrotary slicing discl against which said fruit gravitates and is urged by said impeller to cut said fruit in half, a pair of expressing plates upon which each half of the fruit is guided after being cut in half by said rotary slicing disc, and a pair of expressing rolls operating in conjunctionwith said expressing platesto extract the juice from said fruit, said expressing plates having their upper portions resting adjacent either side of said slicing disc and having downwardly extending portions somewhat remotely spaced from the lateral portions of said expressing rolls, curved portions approaching said expressing rolls and merging into substantially horizontal portions in close proximity to the under sides of said expressing rolls.

7. A fruit cutting and juice expressing machine having in combination, a supporting frame, an

impeller rotatably mounted in said frame for urging fruit into said machine, a rotary slicing disc against which said fruit gravitates and is said fruit Saidfxpressins plates .haring their lipper Pertnsrestirie adjacent either sideof said l-Cie? d ls and., having, downwardly extending nienasomewhat remotely spaced fromthelatralportensnf vSaid expressing, rolls, Curved Por: tgns eppltda01ine said expressing .rolls` and Irigljging into substantiallyI horizontal portions in clos proxirnity to the under sides of 'said expreSsiparQl1S, l, Y Y gt fruit o tting and juiceA expressing machine havinein ,combination a supporting frame. an iinpellei; rotatably mountedin saidl frame for urging fruit into said machine, .a rotary slicing d is c against which said fruit gravitates and is urged by said Vinripeller `to cut said fruit in half, a 1 1 ,a r cu at,e guide valorgtgwhich the fruit is led @1.111 urged by ,said Aircpeller toward and against Said slicingdisc, expressingplates upon which each halfY of the fruit is received, and expressing rolls operating in conjunction with said plates to extract thejuice from said fruit.

9., A fr uit cuttingan'd juice expressing machine havingin combination, a supporting frame, an impeller, rotatably mounted in said frame for urgingfruit intosai'd machine, a rotary slicing disc against vWhirzlrsaicl fruit gravitates and is urged by said impeller to cut said fruit in half, an arcuate guide along Iwhich theV fruit is led and urged by 'said impell'er toward and against said slicing, disc, expressing plates upon Which each half of the. fruit is received, guides for leading saidfruit from lsaid arcuate guide to said ex pressing plates, and expressing rolls operating in conjunction with said plates to extract the juice from said fruit.

, 10. A fruit-cutting and juiceexpre'ssing iria# chine having in combination, a supporting frame, an' nipeller inounted in the upper part of .said fratrie and having ineans thereon'fo'r conveying and urging f ruit into lsaid, inachine a rotary slicing disc having its axis parallel to the axis of said limpeller and against which said fruit 'gravitates and is urged by said iinpeller to cut vsaid fruit in half, expressing plates which each half ofthe fruit isreceved after being cut by said slicing disc; expressing rolls hav-f ing their axes 'at substantially right angles to the axes of said i'rnpeller and 'said rotary cutting disc; a plurality of ejectingins mounted on said expressing rolls, said ns extending parallel with the axes of said expressing rolls, said` expressing rolls operating vin conjunction with s aid expressing plates t extract the juice from said fruit;

and ineens f riotating said inpellr, said rotary slicing ds'cand said e'xp'ssingrolls.v Vl1. fritlcl'itting and jieexprssing machine having in ciribination, ineans for autoniati'cauy cutting' tri' fruit haif, a,pair 9 f expressing plates .upon wnih eacii ha1'f o f tne fruit is guided, a pail/of expressing rolls oper;- atng in IlJ'uI'iction with said expressing plates to extract the juice frorr said fruit, ai d ex} pressing platesA ,having downwardly, extending portions Asrnevvhat reinotelyspacedvfrgrn the latera tions @preaching Said arresting rolls and iierging into substantially horizontal portionsin vclose, iroigiinity tomthe under sides of saidxpressing rolls, aplurality of ejecting nsrnountedfonhsa expressing rolls, said fins extending aallewith thXeS 0f,Sai,d expressing rolls, and being of` a depth substantially equal to the distance betyeenwthe expressing rolls andex: pressing plates where they are in close proximity to eachother. lZLnjruit-cutting.and juice expressing machine having `i n combination a supporting frame, an unpeller rotatably mounted in said frame for urging fruit into said machinaa rotary slicing disc against which said fruit gravitates and is urged by ,Sadirnpeller to cut said fruit in half, apair o f expressingplates upon which each half of the fruit is gulld` after beingcut in half by said rotary slicing disdapair of expressing rolls operating `in conjunction with said expressing plates to extract the juice from said fruit,rsaid expressingnplates having `their upper portions restingadjacent either side of said-slicing disc and having downwardly, extending portions somewhat rerngotely ,spaced from the lateral portions of saidv expressing rolls, curvedV portions 'api preaching said expressing rolls and merging into substantiallyhorizonjtal portions in close proximityto the under sides of said expressing rolls, a plurality of ejecting fins mounted on said ex# pressing rolls, said nsextending parallel with the axes of saidexpressing rolls; and being of a depth substantially equal to the distance btween the expressing rolls and expressing plates Where they are in closeY proximity to each other.

NATHANIEL EASTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the l of this patent: I UNITED STATES PATETS Nilibe'r 

